Noyes, J.A., House
Why it's listed
This house at 1 Highland Street in Cambridge was designed in 1894 by the architectural firm Longfellow, Alden and Harlow for J.A. Noyes, and it has remained a residence throughout its history. It is an example of Colonial Revival design in wood. The entrance is axial and the facade has five bays, which follow Georgian precedent to some extent, while the overhang and heavy scale of the second floor express the Colonial Revival character. Picturesque details include an unusually short pair of sidelights beside the door and a fanlight-style window whose design is echoed in the center second-story window. Records describe the building as unaltered, unmoved and in a perfect state of preservation, with unusually complete documentation. The grounds hold an open octagonal gazebo with a spring-eaved roof topped by a pineapple finial, a Colonial symbol of hospitality. Landscape architect Charles Eliot designed it, and his nephew Charles Eliot II renewed it in 1925.
Significance in brief: The form describes the house as unusual for its complete documentation and perfect state of preservation. It is a Colonial Revival design whose style is expressed through the overhang and heavy scale of the second floor. The garden gazebo was designed by landscape architect Charles Eliot and renewed in 1925 by his nephew, Charles Eliot II.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001965, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1 Highland St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001965 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Longfellow, Alden and Harlow |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the form records the house as unaltered and not moved, in a perfect state of preservation. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.37959, -71.13171 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001965.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6103896
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.